As the Philippines continues its drive towards inclusive growth, the convergence of technology and business plays an important role. Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) Asset Manager Baste Quiniones joined distinguished individuals from various industries in celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD).

Themed “Convergence of Technology and Business: Engine for Inclusive Growth,” the event was held at the Manila Marriott Hotel in Pasay City on June 30.

Historic natural gas project

Focusing on technology innovation and investment for economic growth, Quiniones highlighted the historic contributions of the Malampaya Gas Project to the country. Through delivering clean and indigenous energy, the project effectively reduced the Philippines’ dependence on imported fuel while increasing revenues for the government.

With regards to powering Philippine progress, Quiniones said that the consortium is an excellent example of public-private partnership. “If you look at what Malampaya has brought to the country, it’s still, in this particular point in time, the most successful public-private partnership.”

Operational excellence

Quiniones provided an overview of the next phases of development for Malampaya. Phase 2 is the drilling of two additional subsea wells while Phase 3 is the construction, hookup, commissioning, and startup of a second offshore platform. Focusing on Phase 3, Quiniones illustrated Filipino pride at its finest with the first-ever designing and construction of a gas platform in the country. He said that by focusing on local content and elevating the technical knowhow of Filipinos to global standards, the undertaking now puts the Philippines on the world map as a fabrication site for future oil and gas projects.

State-of-the-art innovation

Quiniones highlighted the cutting-edge innovation of the new platform—from its self-installing technology to its capability to withstand typhoons.

“No longer are we bound by trying to go overseas to find a contractor to make it. No longer are we bound by schedules that are controlled by others,” he said. “We, in this particular sense, control our destiny.”